Performing the ancient Cheo play Tong Tran

On the occasion of the 134th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2024), on the evening of May 18, at the Provincial Museum yard, Hung Yen Cheo Theater organized a performance of the ancient Cheo play "Tong Tran - Cuc Hoa" to serve the people.

Audience attentively enjoy the Cheo performance

The Cheo play "Tong Tran Cuc Hoa" was staged by Hung Yen Cheo Theater based on a famous folk tale, with content of profound humanistic meaning. The content of the play tells the story of the faithful and loyal love between Tong Tran - a studious Hung Yen boy and Cuc Hoa - a girl from a rich family, who values righteousness.

According to legend, during the pre-Ly Dynasty, in An Do commune, Vong Phan commune, Phu Dung district (now An Cau village, Tong Tran commune, Phu Cu district), there was a poor scholar named Tong Tran, who lost his father at a young age and had to take his mother away to seek a living. Cuc Hoa, the daughter of a rich man, fell in love with him because of her intelligence and willingness to follow him to study hard... In February of the year Quy Suu (563), Tong Tran passed the Giap Cap exam, the first-ranked mandarin, and was granted a palanquin by the king to return home to pay respect to his ancestors. Returning to his village to pay respect to his ancestors, visiting both paternal and maternal sides, and celebrating the village for a month, he married Cuc Hoa. After 3 months, the king sent him as an envoy to the North. The king of the North, seeing that the mandarin was young, showed contempt and wanted to test the mandarin's talent in the South. Tong Tran answered every question well, so the king of the North praised him as the most talented man among the 18 vassal states and appointed him as "The two-country mandarin". The Chinese king wanted to marry his daughter to the mandarin, but Tong Tran refused, so he was punished by the king. After passing 100 days of trials, the Chinese king was even more impressed with the mandarin's talent...

A scene from the play Tong Tran - Cuc Hoa

At home, Cuc Hoa still waited for her husband and was filial to her mother-in-law. Although her father forced her to marry a rich man, she remained faithful. After 10 years of being an ambassador, knowing that Cuc Hoa was still loyal to him, and impressed by her qualities of three obediences and four virtues, Tong Tran welcomed his wife back to reunite. The King knew about the story and appointed Cuc Hoa as "District Lady"... Currently, in Phu Cu district, there are 2 relics related to the legend of Tong Tran - Cuc Hoa, which are Tong Tran temple in Tong Tran commune, the festival is held from the 8th to the 16th of the 4th lunar month, and Phuong Hoang temple (worshipping Cuc Hoa) in Minh Tien commune, the festival is held every year from the 1st to the 3rd of the 3rd lunar month.

The legend of Tong Tran - Cuc Hoa, recreated by Professor Ha Van Cau through the folk tunes of the Northern region; directed by People's Artist Le Hung, successfully organized by Hung Yen Cheo Theater, thereby expressing the dream of success of the working people; condemning the brutal forces that have prevented and trampled on love; at the same time praising the steadfast heart, the will to strive for happiness, for love of people who know how to fight against those forces and many harsh customs... The performance attracted a large number of people to enjoy, leaving a deep impression in the hearts of the audience.

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